Below-ground swimming pool assembly



y 0, 1969 v. SHANNI 3,444,659

BELOW-GROUND SWIMMING POOL ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 4, 1967 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR V. SHANN/ ATTORNEY May 20, 1969 Filed Dec. 4, 1967 FIG. 4

FIG. 5

v. SHANNI BELOW-GROUND SWIMMING POOL ASSEMBLY Sheet United States Patent 3,444,659 BELOW-GROUND SWIMMING POOL ASSEMBLY Vincent Shanni, Scotch Plains, N..I., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Anthony Pools, Inc., South Gate, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 4, 1967, Ser. No. 687,579 Int. Cl. E04h 12/20; E02d 5/74 US. Cl. 52-149 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A swimming pool assembly comprises a plurality of abutting wall panels having externally convex surfaces. A telescoping brace member permits the wall section to be supported by an angle member anchored to the ground at any of various elevations. A coping for holding a swimming pool liner has an L-shaped portion which is screwed to a corner of a coping support member affixed to the top of the wall section. Abutting wall sections are bolted together by means of a corner member including a cylindrical surface for rounding the corner of the swimming pool enclosure.

Background of the invention Most below-ground swimming pools are made of concrete which has the disadvantage of being expensive to install and maintain. With the introduction of various water-containing plastics such as vinyl, efforts have been made to devise an economical swimming pool enclosure for supporting a plastic swimming pool liner. Rectangular enclosures made of cinder block, wood, and steel have been marketed, with each of these structures having their own advantages and disadvantages. For example, cinder block enclosures are fairly expensive to install, while steel and wood enclosures tend to have a limited longevity.

Summary of the invention It is an object of this invention to provide a durable swimming pool assembly of relatively inexpensive construction which is convenient to install.

This and other objects of the invention are attained in an illustrative embodiment thereof comprising a swimming pool wall section adapted to be abutted at right angles to other wall sections to form a rectangular enclosure. The wall section comprises a plurality of horizontally extending wall panels abutted together on their sides and welded to a plurality of vertical posts. A coping extending along the top surface of the wall section defines a socket for containing an edge of a plastic swimming pool liner. A plurality of brace members extend outwardly from certain of the vertical posts and are anchored to the ground by anchor pins driven through angle members each attached to the end of a brace member.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, the support members comprise a telescoping brace member connected at one end to an upper portion of a vertical post, a lower brace member connected at one end to a lower portion of the same vertical post, with 'both members being pivotally connected to the angle member. The telescoping brace member has an adjustable length so that the elevation of the angle member can be adjusted to accommodate the terrain and can be anchored to the ground at any of various elevations.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the coping section includes an L-shaped portion adapted to fit flush against a corner of a fiat coping support member afiixed to the upper surface of the wall section. By

3,444,659 Patented May 20, 1969 inserting a screw through aligned apertures of the L-shaped coping portion and the coping support member, the coping can be easily affixed to the top of the coping support member.

In accordance with still another feature of the invention, each of the wall panels has a substantially U-shaped cross-section with externally convex central portions. The externally convex central portions form the inner surface of the swimming pool wall against which the swimming pool liner is supported. Because of their configuration, horizontally directed forces on the wall panels resulting from the water pressure are distributed throughout the wall section, thus giving optimal structural support.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, abutting wall sections are afiixed by a corner member comprising first and second flat portions arranged at a right angle, a central portion extending from the vertex of the right angle at substantially 135 with respect to each of the first and second flat portions, and an arcuate corner member portion aflixed to an end of the central portion. The first and second flat corner member portions include apertures adapted to register with apertures in side surfaces of the abutting wall sections so that the corner member can be bolted to the wall sections. The arcuate portion of the corner member has substantially the configuration of a cylindrical section and bears against the inner surfaces of the contiguous wall sections so that it forms with the wall sections a substantially continuous rounded inner surface. This, of course, reduces stress on the swimming pool liner which would be incurred if it were deformed into a sharp right angle at the corner and distributes water pressure on the wall sections.

It is still another feature of this invention that all of the major components of the swimmfng pool assembly be made of extruded aluminum. This implies that each of the various structural elements be composed of relatively thin wall sections so that they can be amenable to aluminum extrusion. This in turn results in relatively light weight structural components so that an entire assembled wall section can be prefabricated and yet be conveniently handled. As will be appreciated later, the entire swimming pool enclosure can be very conveniently and economically assembled at the excavated site of the swimming pool to be constructed. This does not result in compromises of the structural strength of the pool enclosure which is required to withstand the forces of water pressure and the rigors of vigorous use. Finally, since the enclosure is made almost entirely of aluminum, it will not deteriorate from continuous exposure to soil and water.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be better appreciated from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned view of a swimming pool in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially sectional view of one of the swimming pool assemblies of the swimming pool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial view of an outside surface of a wall of the swimming pool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along lines 44 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a corner member of the swimming pool of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a swimming pool in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention comprising a rectangular enclosure formed by four swimming pool assemblies 10 bolted together at right angles around the periphery of an excavation which defines the contour of the bottom of floor of the swimming pool. Extending around an upper surface of the swimming pool assembly is a coping 24, one end of which rests on a deck 9 and the other end of which defines a continuous peripheral socket for securing a swimming pool liner 20 made of an appropriate plastic such as vinyl or the like. The swimming pool is perferably installed by first excavating away suflicient soil to permit the wall assemblies 10 to be mounted as shown, .after which soil is backfilled against the outer walls of the swimming pool enclosure and the deck 9 is installed. The term inner shall be used herein to refer to a direction toward the center of the pool and the term outer to refer to a direction away from the center of the pool. Each of the wall assemblies 10 are substantially identical and will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 2 through 4.

The wall assembly 10 of FIG. 2 comprises an array of generally 'U-shaped wall panels 11, each having an externally convex central portion 14 and opposite L-shaped leg portions 15. The externally convex central portions 14 form a continuous inner wall of the swimming pool assembly as is shown in FIG. 1, while the L-shaped leg portions are abutted together as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 also shows how the abutting panels 13 are welded together and to vertical posts 17 by spot welds 18. The welded panels 13 .and vertical posts 17 together constitute a wall section 19.

7 Referring again to FIG. 2, a coping support member 21, comprising a. horizontal portion 22 and a vertical portion 23, is welded to an upper surface of the wall section 19. The coping 24, comprising a body member 25 having an externally convex inner end, a flat wall portion 26, and an L-shaped portion 27, is fastened to the coping support member 21 by means of a screw or bolt extending through the L-shaped portion 27 of the coping and the vertical portion 23 of the coping support member. An extended socket is formed by the inner end of the coping for receiving an edge of the swimming pool liner 20 and securing it in place as is shown in FIG. 1. An outer end 28 of the coping is designed to rest on the deck 9 as is shown in FIG. 1.

The swimming pool wall section 19 is supported by an adjustable support member 30 comprising a telescoping brace member 31 and a lower brace member 32, both of which are pivotally connected to a pivot plate 33 which in turn is welded to an angle member 3'4. The telescoping member 31 comprises two overlapping members 35 and 36 which are shown in section in FIG. 4. Members 35 and 36 each have a plurality of axially spaced apertures which may be brought into registration so that the overlapping members can be secured by bolts 38. The telescoping brace member 31 and the lower brace member 32 are both pivotally connected to the wall section 19 so that before the bolts 38 are inserted, the entire adjustable support member may be pivoted up or down.

As shown in FIG. 4, overlapping members 35 and 36 both form right angles with member 35 nesting in member 36. Small transverse portions 39 extend along sides of outer member 36 to overlap and secure the inner member 35. Thus, before bolt 38 is inserted, member 35 is securely nested within member 36 while still being free to move axially. This feature permits the installers to make a rough excavation of the grade surrounding the pool with subsequent adjustment of adjustable member 30 so that angle member 34 can be securely abutted against the terrain that has been excavated. Thereafter, the pair of anchor pins 41 are driven through apertures in angle member 34 into the soil beneath as is shown more clearly in FIG. 1. In the absence of the adjustment feature, the excavation would have to be made to accommodate the brace member which would mean that in some cases the angle member 34 would have to be seated in a location of the terrain other than that which would tend to give the most secure support to the wall section. For example, if the terrain contains a large rock or boulder, the adjustable support member can be adjusted to 4 abut against it to give very secure support, whereas with a non-adjustable support member, removal of the boulder may be necessitated. Anchor pins 41 are also driven through apertures in the wall section as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, abutting wall sections 10 having end portions-12 are interconnected by means of a corner member 43 comprising first and second flat portions 44 forming a right angle, a central portion 45 extending from the vertex of the right angle at substantially 135 degrees, and an arcuate portion 46 which has substantially the configuration of a degree cylindrical section. The arcuate section 46 forms a substantially continuous surface with the inner surfaces of abutting wall portions to prevent the swimming pool liner from being deformed into a right angle, thereby minimizing stress on the pool liner. In addition, the arcuate portion distributes the water pressure onto abutting wall sections and prevents water pressure from being concentrated at the corners of the enclosure which might tend to rupture the enclosure at the corners.

The configuration which has been described reduces the cost of swimming pool fabrication and installation for a number of reasons. All of the components have sufficiently thin walls to be made of extruded aluminum which is strong and corrosion resistant. The wall panels 11 with their external convex central portions 14 give optimum stress distribution because the horizontally directed forces resulting from water pressure are inherently partially resolved into vertical forces. This can be appreciated from considering a horizontal force to the left on one of the wall panels 13 of FIG. 2; this force causes the convex central portion 14 to bend inwardly, i.e., in an outward direction with respect to the swimming pool, very slightly which in turn produces an upward force on the panel immediately above and a downward force on the panel immediately below. As a result, the forces resulting from varying water pressure and the rigors of intensive pool use are distributed throughout the pool enclosure. The components of the wall section 19 are of sufiiciently light weight to permit prefabrication at a manufacturing plant and subsequent unit installation at the swimming pool site.

As mentioned before, the terrain is initially excavated, the wall sections 19 are fastened in place, and the adjustable support members 30 are adjusted to give optimum support with respect to the excavation that has been made. The coping 24 is very easily installed on the top surface of the wall section by inserting screws or bolts through the easily accessible L-shaped portion 27 of the coping. After the swimming pool enclosure has been installed, the terrain is backfilled to give additional support as shown in FIG. 1. The deck 9 is installed which gives additional support to the coping 24 and, with the coping, provides an attractive periphery for the finished pool.

The embodiment which has been described is intended only to be illustrative of the inventive features involved; various other embodiments and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A swimming pool assembly comprising:

a wall section comprising a plurality of horizontally extending wall panels welded to a plurality of vertical posts;

each wall panel being of a substantially U-shaped crosssection and comprising a pair of displaced L-shaped leg portions interconnected by a central portion;

L-shaped leg portions of contiguous wall panels being in abutment and being welded to the vertical posts, the central portions of successive wall panels forming a substantially continuous inner surface of the wall section;

means comprising a swimming pool liner overlaying said wall section inner surface for containing a quantity of water;

each of said central portions of the wall panels having a convex inner wall surface configuration whereby water pressure forces on the inner surface are distributed throughout the wall section.

2. The swimming pool assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of adjustable support members for aiding in the containment of said Water, said adjustable support members each comprising a telescoping brace member connected at a first end to an upper portion of a vertical post, a lower brace member connected at a first end to a lower portion of the same vertical post, an angle member, and a pivot plate;

said angle member comprising first and second flat plates afiixed so as to form a right angle;

at least one anchor pin adapted to extend Vertically through the second flat angle member plate into the ground beneath;

said pivot plate atfixed to both of the fiat angle member plates and located in a plane transverse thereto;

second ends of the telescoping brace member and the lower brace member being pivotally connected to the pivot plate;

said telescoping member comprising first and second overlapping members, each having a plurality of apertures located along overlapping regions, whereby the efiective length of the telescoping member can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the extent of overlap of the overlapping members and securing them together by at least a single bolt through registered apertures of both overlapping members.

3. The swimming pool assembly of claim 2 wherein:

the first and second overlapping members each comprises first and second flat portions arranged at right angles;

the second overlapping member nests into the right angle formed by the first member;

and small transverse portions extend along the sides of the first and second fiat portions of the first overlapping member for securing the second overlapping member.

4. The swimming pool assembly of claim 3 further comprising:

a coping support member afiixed to the upper surface of the wall section;

said coping support member comprising a flat horizontal portion and a fiat vertical portion extending downwardly from an outer side of the horizontal portion;

and a coping mounted to the coping support member;

said coping comprising a body member having an externally convex inner end which comprises means for receiving and securing an edge of the swimming pool liner;

a flat wall portion extending vertically downwardly from the body member;

an L-shaped coping portion extending from the fiat wall portion and having a first leg which bears fiush against the coping support member horizontal portion and a second leg which bears flush against the coping support member vertical portion;

registered apertures in the second leg of the L-shaped coping portion and the coping support vertical portion and means for securing the coping to the coping support member comprising a screw adapted to extend through the registered apertures.

5. The swimming pool assembly of claim 4 further comprising:

four of said Wall sections adapted to be fitted together at right angles to form a rectangular enclosure;

and means for attaching contiguous wall sections comprising a corner member;

said corner member comprising first and second fiat corner member portions arranged at a right angle, a central portion extending from the vertex of the right angle at substantially 135 with respect to each of the first and second flat corner member portions, and an arcuate corner member portion afiixed to an end of the central portion;

said arcuate corner member portion having substantially the configuration of the cylindrical section and and bearing against the inner surfaces of contiguous wall sections, whereby the arcuate corner member portion forms with said inner surfaces a substantially continuous surface;

said wall sections comprise side surfaces having apertures therein;

the first and second fiat corner member portions include apertures adapted to register with said side surface apertures;

and means for affixing the corner member to said wall sections comprising bolts adapted to extend through registered apertures of the wall portion side surfaces and the first and second flat corner member portions.

6. The swimming pool assembly of claim 5 wherein:

each of the wall sections includes a bottom surface containing a plurality of apertures;

and means for securing said wall portions comprising a plurality of pins adapted to extend through said bottom surface apertures into the ground beneath.

7. A coping assembly for a swimming pool comprising:

a coping support member afiixed to an upper surface of a wall section of the swimming pool;

said coping support member comprising a flat horizontal portion and a fiat vertical portion extending downwardly from an outer side of the horizontal portion;

a coping mounted to the coping support member;

said coping comprising a body member having an externally convex inner end which comprises means for receiving and securing an edge of a swimming pool liner;

a fiat wall portion extending vertically downwardly from the body member;

an L-shaped coping portion extending from the fiat wall portion and having a first leg which bears flush against the coping support member horizontal portion, and a second leg which bears flush against the coping support member vertical portion;

registered apertures in the second leg of the L-shaped coping portion and the coping support vertical portion and means for securing the coping to the coping support member comprising a screw adapted to extend through the registered apertures.

8. A swimming pool assembly comprising:

a plurality of wall sections for defining an enclosure for containing a body of water;

each of said wall sections comprising a plurality of vertical posts;

a plurality of adjustable support members for aiding in the containment of said water, said adjustable support members each comprising a telescoping base member connected at a first end to an upper portion of a vertical post, a lower brace member connected at a first end to a lower portion of the same vertical post, an angle member and a pivot plate;

said angle member comprising first and second flat plates afi'ixed so as to form a right angle;

at least one anchor pin adapted to extend vertically through the second flat angle member plate into the ground beneath;

said pivot plate aflixed to both of the flat angle member plates and located in a plane substantially transverse thereto;

second ends of the telescoping brace member and the lower brace member 'being pivotally connected to the pivot plate;

said telescoping member comprising first and second overlapping members, each having a plurality of apertures located along overlapping regions, whereby the elfective length of the telescoping member can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the extent of overlap of the overlapping members and securing them together by at least a single bolt through registered apertures of both overlapping members.

9. The swimming pool assembly of claim 8 wherein:

the first and second overlapping members each comprises first and second flat portions arranged at right angles; the second overlapping member nests into the right angle formed by the first overlapping member;

small transverse portions extend along sides of the first and second flat portions of the first overlapping member for securing the second overlapping member.

10. In a swimming pool assembly of the type comprising four wall sections abutted together at right angles to form a rectangular enclosure for containing a body of water, the improvement comprising:

means for attaching contiguous wall sections comprising a corner member;

said corner member comprising first and second fiat portions arranged at a right angle, the central portion extending from the vertex of the right angle at sub- 25 stantially 135 with respect to each of the first and second flat portions;

and an arcuate portion affixed to an end of the second portion;

said arcuate portion having substantially the configuration of a 90 cylindrical section and bearing against the inner surfaces of contiguous wall sections, whereby the arcuate portion forms with said inner surfaces at substantially continuous surface; said wall sections comprise side surfaces having apertures therein; the first and second flat corner member portions include apertures adapted to register with said side surface apertures; and means for afiixing the corner member to said wall sections comprising bolts adapted to extend through 10 registered apertures of the wall portion side surfaces and the first and second flat portions of the corner member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 245,162 8/1881 Hallenbeck 52282 2,638,188 5/1953 Corn 52-149 2,864,098 12/1958 Lorimer 52--169 X 2,870,491 1/1959 Vincent 52-155 X 3,031,801 5/1962 Leuthesser 52169 X 3,192,538 7/1965 Walter 52-265 X 3,274,739 9/1966 Gregoire 52282 X 3,298,039 1/1967 Schmerler 52169 X 3,371,455 3/1968 Fox 52169 FOREIGN PATENTS 0 ALFRED C. PERHAM, Primary Examiner. 

